07:36 AM EDT, 10/14/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Titan Mining ( TIMCF ) said Tuesday that it is on track to start producing graphite concentrate at its Empire State Mines operation in New York state.

Titan said it is targeting to ramp up to a 40,000-tonne-per-year commercial graphite facility, which can supply about half of current U.S. natural graphite demand.

This would also make Titan the only natural flake graphite company positioned for near-term production in the US, the company said.

Titan noted that China recently tightened export restrictions on artificial graphite and blended anode materials, a move that is expected to further strain global supply of both synthetic and natural graphite feedstocks.

"China's decision to tighten graphite exports underscores the importance of having a secure domestic supply of natural graphite," president and chief executive officer Rita Adiani said.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank has provided a letter of interest for up to US$120 million in financing for Titan's commercial graphite facility. Titan said it continues to collaborate with the U.S. Department of War and U.S. Department of Energy on various other funding opportunities.

"Natural graphite touches every strategic sector, from defense to energy to AI data centers, and the U.S. currently produces none of it," Adiani said. "Titan is changing that by re-establishing natural flake graphite production and high-purity graphite processing here at home to support the technologies and systems that keep America strong."

Titan's share price fell 4% Friday to $2.31 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.